﻿The first elementary school was called The Mill Swamp School which was located on the opposite side of the site and was called a former Freedmens Bureau School. After the former Freedmens Bureau School burned, the trustees of Chews, Hopes, Mt. Zion, and St. Marks Churches decided that a new school needed to be re-built in order to further educate the black children in the community.

The trustees of Chews, Hope, Mt. Zion and St. Marks of the South River Charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church were William Whittington, Reverend Samuel T. Collins, and Arthur Brown. The church communities all worked together and purchased the land from Richard Henry and Martha Louise Neal on November 18, 1920 after the school burned according to oral history. Other records mentioned that the Mill Swamp School closed because of funding.

A physical description of the Mill Swamp School and Community can also be found in the original land and deed records. The Mill Swamp Community was also known as "Water Loo".

It would not be the first time that the four churches would help within their own community to support one another and it would not be the last. Until a new school could be built, the children would attend school in the home of others.

﻿In 1928, the trustees of the churches deeded the land to the Board of Education and a two room school was built upon this land. By 1950, the communit﻿y had out grown the two room school and the school would need to be expanded. The two room school was modernized and more classrooms were added.. The Mill Swamp School was re-named The Ralph J. Bunche School.﻿﻿﻿

Pillars of the Community

﻿We would like to give tribute to those who have kept the grounds of our facility mowed, cleaned and free from debris, those who have volunteered their services to do just the little things; such as, put in a light bulb or doing a little painting and volunteering at our annual Community Day. It is these faithful persons who have given up their time unselfishly on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

We appreciate your kindness and commitment, and we thank you for your support throughout the years. ﻿